Concurrent resolution creating a joint legislative committee to investigate various aspects of the Barge canal, its facilities and terminals, as they relate to the state's purposes of flood control, conservation and utilization of waters and the possible lease or transfer to the Federal Government of functions of navigation, proscribing the powers and duties of such joint legislative committee and making provisions for its expenses.

WHEREAS, The people of this state at the last general election approved an amendment to Article fifteen of the Constitution, authorizing the lease or transfer to the Federal Government of the Barge canal, consisting of the Erie, Oswego, Champlain, Cayuga and Seneca divisions and the Barge canal terminals and facilities for purposes of operation, improvement and inclusion in the national system of inland waterways, and

WHEREAS, Such national system of inland waterways is regarded as an important adjunct by the Federal Government for national defense purposes and such national system of inland waterways will not be complete until such time as it includes the Barge canal system of this state; and

WHEREAS, The St. Lawrence Seaway has placed new and greater importance upon the New York State ports served by Great Lakes- St. Lawrence Seaway and as such ports are now connected with the port of New York and the large industrial areas of the State served by the Barge canal; and

WHEREAS, The said constitutional amendment further provides that the Legislature, in determining the state's share of the annual cost of operation, maintenance and improvement of the Barge canal, the several divisions, terminals and facilities, shall give consideration and evaluate the benefits derived from the Barge canal for purposes of flood control, conservation and utilization of water resources; and

WHEREAS, A thorough study of the most equitable means of retaining and preserving jurisdiction to the state in the interest of the people for the purposes of flood control, conservation and utilization of water resources of the Barge canal is required; now, therefore, be it

Resolved (if the Senate concur). That a joint legislative committee be and hereby is created for the following purposes:

1. To conduct a study and survey of the state's requirement of the Barge canal:
   1. For purposes of flood control, conservation and utilization of waters and the unavailability of such waters for irrigation restricted by the treaty between Canada and the United States of America;
   2. As a waterway connection between the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway and the port of New York and other ports of the states, including all agricultural, industrial, and commercial areas of the state served by the Barge canal;
   3. As a facility for the expanded use by pleasure craft for recreation purposes; and
   4. For such other purposes as the committee may deem necessary.
2. To determine the Federal Government's policies in relation to future maintenance, operation and improvement of the Barge canal for functions of navigation,
3. To evaluate the state's benefits derived from the Barge canal for purposes of flood control, conservation and utilization of water resources,
4. To estimate the amount of the state's share of the animal cost of operation, maintenance and improvement of the Barge canal, the several divisions, terminals and facilities in regard to the state's benefits derived for purposes of flood control, conservation and utilization of water resources in relation to the over all cost to the Federal Government of financing the Barge canal functions for navigation; and
5. To make recommendations for the formulation of a comprehensive, long range jurisdictional plan of state requirements for purposes of flood control, conservation and utilization of the water resources of the Barge canal in relation to the transfer of functions of navigation to the Federal Government;
6. To cooperate with the temporary state commission on water resources planning and any other agencies of the state concerned with water resources;
7. To make recommendations for the formulation of a comprehensive, long range plan for such improvement and development of port facilities as may be required to realize the fullest possible benefits of the St. Lawrence Seaway essential to the economy of the state;
8. Formulate and recommend for enactment such legislation as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate, if it be deemed the sense of the Legislature to do so, a lease or transfer to the Federal Government of the Barge canal, its terminals and facilities, on such terms and conditions as the Legislature may impose, consistent always with legislative policy respecting flood control, conservation and water resources; and be it further

Resolved (if the Senate concur). That such committee shall consist of three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate, and four members of the Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; and be it further

Resolved (if the Senate concur). That the members of the said committee shall choose a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members, employ counsel, stenographers and such other employees and assistants as may be necessary for the proper consummation of its duties and to fix the compensation of all such employees; such committee, further, shall have the power to attend meetings, hearings and conferences, both within and without the state, conduct public hearings and take testimony in any locality In the state, subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance and the production of books, records, statements, documents, as may be pertinent to the study and that such committee shall have all the powers of a legislative committee as provided by legislative law; and it is further

Resolved (if the Senate concur). That such committee shall report Its findings to the Legislature on or before the thirty-first day of March, nineteen hundred sixty-one and may submit with its report such legislative proposals as it may deem necessary to make the recommendations effective ; and be it further

Resolved (if the Senate concur). That there is hereby appropriated out of the legislative contingent fund and made immediately available to such committee the sum of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary for the necessary expenses of such committee in carrying out its duties. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the Comptroller on vouchers approved as prescribed by law.